DOJ to verify reason for barring Japanese trade unionist from entering PHL — De Lima

MANILA — Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima on Thursday said that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will verify the reason for barring a Japanese trade unionist from entering the Philippines before determining if there is a need to conduct a review on the government’s criteria used in the qualification and manner by which a Black List Order (BLO) is implemented.

Japanese national Katsuhiro Sato was barred from entering the country last week and was immediately deported to Japan for being included in the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) BLO.

When asked if she will call for a tripartite review of the criteria used in the qualification and manner by which a BLO is implemented, De Lima said that she will verify the circumstances surrounding Sato’s deportation first and the basis for including him in the BLO.

“I need to verify that first and check the basis for the Black List,” De Lima said in a text message.

Sato is a trade unionist and a member of JICHIRO, the largest umbrella organization of local government unions in Japan.

The Nagkakaisa, a coalition of labor groups said that the BI abused its authority and committed gross violation of basic human right to free movement, free assembly and right to free expression when it deported Sato to Japan.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said that Sato was included in the BLO for participating in the international solidarity on free expression and free assembly in Manila against ADB in 2012.